Chapter 8 #2
“I’m not going to repeat what Laura just said to me,” he said as he approached. “But are you okay, June?”
“I definitely am okay. Madi rescued me.”
His shoulders relaxed a fraction and he blew out a sigh of relief. I’d heard tidbits about him from Dallas, and realized he wasn’t exaggerating. This guy needed a massage, a nap, and a beer ASAP. “Oh good. Let me grab the mop, and I’ll feed the three of you lunch.”
“Oh we’re not—”
The pretty man moved like a superhero, already darting out of sight. June watched him go and then looked at her niece. “What on earth did you say to him?”
“Just what you said,” Laura chirped. “But don’t worry. I didn’t tell him about your kiss.”
June narrowed her eyes. “You mind your business, Laura Anne Moore. You hear me?”
She grinned. “Cross my heart. Can we have lunch now?”
“Didn’t you just eat a donut?”
“I’m a growing girl.” Her head tilted back as she looked up at me. “How did you get to be so tall? Can you show me how so I don’t end up as short as Aunt June?”
June feigned an offended gasp. “How dare you call me short? I am almost average height, I’ll have you know.”
Laura wrinkled her nose, clearly unconvinced. I snorted as June dragged her niece close and tickled her until she was giggling and squealing.
It’d been a long time since I’d seen a family relationship like that. It was clear June loved her, and clear Laura loved her back. My heart squeezed as we waited for Austin to return.
I wasn’t close with any of my family. There were times I missed them, but I’d become the black sheep. I was an apple that had not only fallen far from the tree, but the tree had oranges. Not even the same type of fruit. I kept in touch with my younger siblings, but outside of them, it was just me.
Used to be Justin and me.
I was better off without him, I reminded myself.
“I have returned,” Austin announced with a mop and bucket in hand.
June and I stepped further apart from each other to give him the space to mope it all up. June kept her elbow balanced on the top of Laura’s head, who kept poking her in the ribs and giggling like a menace.
“Have you met Madi?” June asked as she watched Austin. “She’s your artist-in-residence.”
“Fuck. I mean, oh. I promise we don’t normally have water on the floor. Sorry about that.” He winced. “It’s nice to meet you, Madi. My sister was thrilled to have someone here for the residency. Welcome to Whynot.”
“No worries,” I rushed out. “And thank you. So far, I’m loving it.”
“You got in on Friday?” Austin asked.
I nodded. “Yep. Well, barely. My car broke down and I got it all the way to the shop, but . . .” I trailed off as his expression went off like a light bulb.
“See,” Austin said, looking at June as if I’d just proven a point for him. June immediately groaned as if she already knew what he was about to say. “This is why I can’t take time off. What if someone needed me like she needed Dallas? And he took the weekend off?”
“Everyone deserves time off,” June sighed. She narrowed her eyes. “Laura, go take the roses to the front desk, then go pick us out a table. Get us a good booth.”
“Okay!”
She scooped up the two buckets and ran off. June crossed her arms, her expression sharpening like a butcher’s knife. “You’re going on a damn vacation soon, Austin. All of us demand it.”
“I can’t.”
“You can and you will.”
“I won’t.”
“You will.”
His brows knit together. “None of y’all can make me,” he protested.
“At this point, we’re going to kidnap you and drop you off in the middle of nowhere.”
“I’d find my way back.”
June let out a frustrated sigh and shot me an annoyed look.
“For context, Austin has a stick up his ass and never stops working. He’s made it a problem for all of us.
He is burnt out, but refuses to acknowledge it.
He’s exhausted all the time. He’s aged right before my eyes, and not like fine wine. ”
“Hey, I am still hot.”
June shook her head.
“I haven’t aged that much.”
“He says that, and yet I’ve seen the man age a decade in just a few years.”
“Well, that’s what happens when your dad dies.”
June pressed her lips together, and I expected her to be apologetic, but she only rolled her eyes. “Not an excuse for working yourself to an early grave. We’d like you to stay alive, Whynot. I need you to find a woman and settle down but she needs to be someone you’ll actually listen to.”
Austin barked out a laugh. “And who said I’m settling down with just a woman?”
Now June laughed too. “Okay, fair enough.”
The two of them chatted with such ease. I was envious of that. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had . . . Well, friends.
I’d been so focused on Dream Ink, I’d let new relationships pass me by.
My chest squeezed with regret.
“Madi, I am really sorry,” Austin added. “I’ve known June for too long. I’m not normally like this. I swear I’m a cool person.”
“Except for when you’re punching your best friends.”
“For god’s sake,” he groaned. “That was one time. Are y’all ever gonna let that go?”
She grinned triumphantly. “Nope. Madi, do you want to join me for lunch?”
“Uh, well . . .”
Suddenly, all my doubts about myself reared up like an ugly monster. I swallowed hard as my chest constricted more. “I already had lunch earlier with Dallas. Could I stop by and see you later this week?”
June’s smile softened. “Please do. Maybe it’ll be a little less eventful next time. Or maybe not. I’ll see you around.”
My knees were going to give out. “See you,” I croaked as she winked at Austin and then headed for the cafe through the lobby.
I stood still for a few moments, watching her go and wondering where the fuck my anxiety had suddenly come from. Why was I like this? Why did I always get in my head about things?
I felt a pair of eyes on me and looked up at Austin. He offered a gentle smile. “If you need anything, we’re always around. I’m sure my sister will be coming to find you this week. She’s been talking non-stop about the artist residency for a while now. Dallas is always available too.”
“Thanks. He’s been really helpful . . .” I trailed off. “I think I need to go back to my room and . . .”
“Decompress?”
“Yeah.” Decompress, decompose. Either. Both.
He nodded with all the understanding in the world. “I’ll get you taken care of.”
“You don’t need to worry about me,” I added. “I’m sure you’ve got a million things to do.”
Austin’s laugh shook his shoulders. “Sure, but helping people is always at the top of my list.” He picked up the bucket and mop and glanced around for any other puddles. “I don’t know what the hell this water was from.”
“Could have been a ghost,” I teased.
He seemed to consider that more than I thought he would. “Maybe. I’ve heard shit about the hotel. Anyways, I’ll see you around, Madi. I hope inspiration finds you.”
“Thank you.” I smiled as he went and then ran my fingers through my hair the moment he was out of sight.
Between my lunch with Dallas and June falling into my arms, inspiration was about to come in the shape of a much-needed orgasm.